|  The Adventure begins here...Pacific Rim National Park co-hosts the Whale Festival
The coming of spring to Vancouver Island means the arrival of abundant wildlife--gray whales, bountiful schools of spawning herring and their predators. Pacific Rim National Park co-hosts the Whale Festival, offering lectures and field trips led by visiting and local naturalists, marine biologists and cytologists. Join the celebration and find beauty in the many marine mammals, rugged coastline, crashing surf and coastal rainforests.
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March 20 th -22th, 2012
Proposed Itinerary
Meals included in the package are shown thus: B = breakfast, CB = continental breakfast, L = lunch, S = morning or afternoon snack or tea, D = dinner (All other meals are on your own)
Day 1 – Tuesday, March 20th
You are picked up to begin your adventure to the Wild, Wet, Coast of Vancouver Island. Travel by Coach to Port Alberni for lunch and then on to Tofino where we have time to explore the community and get into the spirit of Whale Festival 2012. We will check into the Weigh West Hotel , and then enjoy a scrumptious dinner at one of Tofino’s finest eateries. L,D
Day 2 – Wednesday, March 21st
After breakfast, we will travel to Ucluelet and join local naturalist, Barb Beasley for “ a Walk on the Wild Side”. Barb will lead us on a walk of The Wild Pacific Trail, where she talks about the very diverse flora and fauna that grows only on the West Coast. Whales are often spotted from this location as well !We will enjoy lunch in Ukie before travelling on to the Wickaninnish Interpretive Center, where naturalists will have presentations about the Grey Whales that are currently migrating up the coast to their Alaskan summer homes.
Take a walk on the beach before heading into Tofino for some free time to explore and dinner on your own . B, L
Day 3 – Thursday, March 22nd
Today, we spend a lot of time on the water. After breakfast, we checkout of the Weigh West and travel to Ucluelet, where we board our whale watching vessels for our voyage into the Broken Islands to study Grey Whales as they gorge themselves on spawning herring. This is a wonderful sight to behold! Our boats will then cross Barkley Sound and drop us off at Bamfield,where you will enjoy your packed lunch, before boarding the M.V. Frances Barkley for a working cruise up Alberni Inlet to Port Alberni. More opportunities to see whales and other wildlife! Enjoy a delicious dinner in “Port” before reboarding the coach for a relaxing ride home ! Boy, what a day!
B. L. D
FARE: Per person sharing: $575
Single Supplement: $120
12 % HST extra
If you are a Single and would like to share a room, we will try and match you up with another Single.
A 10% deposit ($64.40 Sharing or $77.84 Single) will secure your seat. Final Payment due Feb. 20th , 2012
When Packing
- Binoculars & cameras for the whales, seals, otters, sealions, bears, eagles, herons, deer and much more!
- Pack to dress in layers. Carry a light jacket even on warm days due to the frequency of cool coastal fog.
- A water bottle & a DAY PACK for some snack foods and a warm jacket is a good idea. Plan to dress in layers for warmth.
- Sunscreen, a hat and a towel (you may not MEAN to get wet, but the surf can surprise you).
- STURDY SHOES not afraid of sand, mud, and puddles!
- A raincoat is necessary. The coast is famous for rainbows. Rain pants are great, too.
- The coast is virtually bug free most of the year, but blackflies may appear in the early spring (pack repellent).
- Mild temperatures can be expected year-round. It is very unusual to experience extreme heat or cold.
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